Free Extreme Arctic Talk in Newcastle

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), based at the Royal Geographical Society London, takes young people aged 16-23 to extreme locations to learn essential survival skills and carry out research projects in some of the most sensitive areas of the world.

BSES will be visiting Newcastle at the end of January, to speak at schools and youth groups across the North East about expedition opportunities in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon and Desert.

The week will kick off on 23rd January at 17:00-18:00, at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle, where wannabe explorers will have the opportunity to try out Arctic equipment, such as ice-axes and crampons, and find out how they could join a BSES expedition this year.

Young people in the North East can also apply for a £2500 bursary towards expedition costs for an Extreme Arctic gap-year trip, or for a £1000 bursary towards a 3 or 5 week summer expedition - find out how by coming along to the Sunday afternoon talk.

The talk is free and open to all, but it's recommended that you book a seat by emailing lucy@bses.org.uk.

Schools or youth groups that would like to find out more or book at talk should contact lucy@bses.org.uk

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Love the snow? Try the Arctic

There are two kinds of people. Those who, after three days of snowball fights and frozen toes are sick and tired of the white stuff, and those who just can't get enough. If you're in the later group, I've got just the thing...

How about spending a couple of weeks, a month, or even two whole months in the stuff, learning real polar survival skills? You'd be mastering the art of crossing glaciers in a pair of crampons, finding out how to deter a polar bear, practice ice-ace arresting and crevasse rescue and could even try your hand at ice-climbing.

You don't have to be a mountaineering expert or polar guru, in fact all you need is a bit of drive and enthusiasm, and a love of being out in the open. Anyone from the age of 16-23 can apply as a Young Explorer, and adults with experience might like to consider leading.

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) are the 'Daddies' of Arctic adventure and have been running polar expeditions since the 1930s. You can choose from a 3 week or 5 week Arctic Adventure, 2 week Arctic Skills or Environmental Studies expedition, or for those up for a challenge, the 2 month Extreme Arctic Gap Year Expedition.

Check out the website www.bses.org.uk or contact lucy@bses.org.uk to find out more!

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

£2500 BSES bursaries available to the North East

In addition to offering bursaries in the Channel Islands, The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), based at the Royal Geographical Society London, has also secured funding of £2500 for young people aged 18 and over, who are residents of the North East.

Lucy Grewcock, a marketing coordinator with BSES will be speaking at schools, colleges and youth groups in December and January to inform students of how they can get involved and apply for a bursary. Offered on a first-come-first-served basis, the bursaries are available to residents of the North East, who apply for BSES Extreme Arctic 2011.

This two month long 'Gap Year' trip is open to anyone aged between 18 and 23, and gives young people the opportunity to learn essential Arctic survival skills such as polar bear defence, ice-axe arresting and cravasse rescue whilst staying in the comfort of a guest-house in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, before heading deeper into the Arctic wilderness to complete adventure and research phases of their expedition.

The expedition departs the UK on in April 2011.

If you're up for the challenge, check of the finer details of the trip at www.bses.org.uk or contact lucy@bses.org.uk.

Schools or youth groups that would like to find out more or book at talk should contact lucy@bses.org.uk

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

£2500 BSES bursaries available to Channel Island Students

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), based at the Royal Geographical Society London, has secured bursaries of £2500 for young people aged 18 and over, who are residents of the Channel Islands.

The bursaries, offered on a first-come-first-served basis, are available to residents of the Channel Islands, who apply for BSES Extreme Arctic 2011.

This two month long 'Gap Year' trip is open to anyone aged between 18 and 23, and gives young people the opportunity to learn essential Arctic survival skills such as polar bear defence, ice-axe arresting and cravasse rescue whilst staying in the comfort of a guest-house in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, before heading deeper into the Arctic wilderness to complete adventure and research phases of their expedition.

The expedition departs the UK on in April 2011.

If you're up for the challenge, check of the finer details of the trip at www.bses.org.uk or contact lucy@bses.org.uk

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com

Places available for gap-year students on BSES Svalbard Expedition

Gap-year students with a lust for adventure and a passion for environmental science are urged to apply for the last few places for The British Schools Exploring Society’s Extreme Arctic expedition to Svalbard this Spring. The young explorers will be working alongside highly qualified scientists to conduct glacial geomorphology and phrenology studies, contributing to long-term projects concerning the measurement of key indicators of climate change.

BSES’ press release:

Last few places available for Arctic adventure of a lifetime
November 18, 2010

Gap-year students with a lust for adventure and a passion for environmental science are urged to apply for the last few places for The British Schools Exploring Society’s Extreme Arctic expedition to Svalbard this Spring.

Svalbard, a far-flung snowy archipelago on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, is just 600 miles from the North Pole. At 78 degrees north, the average temperature on arrival in April is -20C, with the islands already experiencing 24 hour daylight.

Living in tents and snow caves in sub-zero temperatures, the young explorers will be taught how to survive in the extreme cold before venturing further afield as weather improves, allowing access to unspoiled landscapes as far as the eye can see. Mountaineering, cross-country skiing and travelling with pulks across the mountain tops, valleys, and tundra, the team will experience the vast expanse of astounding natural beauty, with the freedom, under the guidance of world-class leaders, to explore wherever they choose.

The young explorers will also be working alongside highly qualified scientists to conduct glacial geomorphology and phrenology studies, contributing to long-term projects concerning the measurement of key indicators of climate change. In addition, an ornithological survey will also be undertaken, gathering and collating data on some of the indigenous species.

Those taking part will have to be physically fit, enthusiastic and resourceful in order to comfortably live under canvas for the duration of the expedition and to bear the mental and physical hardships of such an adventure.

The young explorers will benefit from contact with highly experienced volunteer leaders from the fields of education, industry, medicine and the armed forces, who will ensure that the expedition works to a professional standard so that ambitious scientific and adventurous training objectives can be safely undertaken.

Any young people inspired by this opportunity, brave enough to take on the challenge and keen to experience the adventure of a lifetime should see www.bses.org.ukfor more details or contact Lucy Grewcock or Charlie Masding at lucy@bses.org.uk/ charlie@bses.org.uk.

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com